Device for moistening the gum on envelopes



[No Model.)

B. E. KINGSLEY. DEVICE FOR MOISTENING THE GUM 0N ENVELOPES.

No. 449,480. Patented Mar. 31,1891.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVARD E. KINGSLEY, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

DEVICE FOR MOISTENING THE GUM ON ENVELOPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,480, dated March 31, 1891.

To aZl whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, EDWARD E. KINGSLEY, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Device for Moistening the Gum on Envelopes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinvention relates to a device for moisteningthe gum upon the open flaps of envelopes and similar articles, and has for its object to provide a simple portable device constructed in such manner that the act of moistening the envelope renews the supply of liquid to the moistening-pad.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a partial plan View thereof, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

A reservoir is attached to the vertical member 11 of a frame A, which frame is preferably angular or L-shaped in cross-section. The reservoir may be of any desired shape. One end, however, is curved from the top downward and inward to produce a convexed surface 12. The bottom surface of the reservoir is preferably straight and smooth, and a space 13 intervenes between it and the upper face of the base member 14, as is best In the straight end of the reservoir an opening is produced, through which the water for moistening is introduced into the same. The said opening is normally closed by a stopper 15 or its equivalent. An aperture is also provided in the under face of the reservoir near the inlet end, into which a sponge 16 or other absorbent substance isinserted, extending both within and without the reservoir, as is likewise best illustrated in Fig. 3. The outer end of the sponge extends downward a slight distance within an opening 17 in the base member of the frame. In the top of the reservoir, preferably near the outlet end, a conical aperture is produced,

seat.

Application filed January 9, 1891. Serial No. 377,214. (No model.)

and the said aperture is normally closed by a conical plug 18, the said plug being provided at its lower end with an extended point 19, whereby the plug will not be lifted entirely out of its aperture when raised to admit air into the interior of the reservoir. The plug 18 has attached to its upper end a spring-arm 20, the said arm being carried, preferably, horizontally outward from the plug, thence vertically downward to an engagement with the base member of the frame, and thence upward, the end thereof being passed through an aperture in a button or stud 21 upon the top of the reservoir at or near the curved end thereof. The end of the arm 20, passing through the button or stud 21, is free to turn therein, and the extremity of the end thus hold is bent horizontally at a right. angle to that portion passing through the button or stud, forming a tongue 22, which rests upon the upper face of the reservoir, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The base member 14 of the frame is usually provided with pointed feet or spurs 2-3, whereby the frame may be readily held upon any surface, as on a table, for instance.

In operation the gummed flap of the envelope is opened in such a manner that the gummed surface is uppermost. One corner of tho gummed flap is then introduced below the reservoir at the curved end thereof, and the entire flap is carried forward in the direction of the opposite end until the projecting end of the sponge 16 has moistened all of the gummed surface. lVhile the envelope flap is being passed beneath the sponge it lifts the arm 20, the lower end whereof rests upon the envelope and likewise lifts the plug 18 a sufficient distance to permit air to enter the reservoir through the vent aperture, whereby the moistening-liquid is permitted to pass from the interior of the reservoir into the outer end of the sponge. Thus the sponge is constantly and automatically in a thoroughly moist condition. The arm being a spring-arm, as soon as the envelope is disengaged therefrom the plug 18 is forced to its By causing the sponge to enter the opening 17 of the frame it is brought in positive contact with the entire gummed surface of the envelope, as the flap must be pressed downward and displace the sponge to an extent while it is being passed through the machine. The said opening also serves to facilitate the replacing of an old sponge, which is usually accomplished in the following manner: After the old sponge has been removed a wire is wound around the top of the sponge in such manner that it extends above and below it. The wrapped end of the sponge is introduced into the reservoir by passing the upper end of the wire through the opening 17, thence through the aperture in the bottom of the reservoir, and out through the opening 15. Then the sponge is in proper position, the wire is removed by drawing it through the opening 15, at the same time holding the sponge at the opening 17.

Having t-hus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A moistener for envelopes, stamps, and the like, consisting of a frame, a reservoir connected with the frame, provided with a vent-opening in its top, an opening in its bottom having an absorbent material inserted therein, and a spring-arm extending downward below the under edge of the reservoir, which arm is'provided with a plug adapted to slide in the vent-armrture, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character described,

the combination, with a reservoir provided A moistener for envelopes, stamps, and similar articles, consisting of a frame, a reservoir attached to the frame, having one convcXe d end and provided with a vent-aperture in its upper face, an opening in the lower face, and an inlet-aperture at one end, a pad of absorbent material projecting beyond the lower face of the reservoir and upward within the same through the opening in its under face, a spring-arm attached .at one end to the reservoir, the said arm being curved downward below the lower edge of the reservoir and upward, and a plug attached to the upper end of the arm, which plug enters the vent-aperture, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination, with an essentially L-shaped frame, the horizontal member whereof is provided with an opening near the vertical member, of a reservoir attached to the vertical member of the frame having one convened end surface and provided with an inlet-aperture in the opposite end, a vent-aperture in its upper face, and an opening in its lower face over the opening in the frame, a pad of absorbent material extending from within the reservoir downward through the opening in its under face and essentially into the opening in the frame, a spring-arm secured at one end to the reservoir, curved downward below the lower edge thereof and extending upward beyond the upper edge, and a plug secured to the upper end of the arm and fitted to the vent'aperture, as and for the purpose set forth.

EDYVARD E. KINGSLEY.

Witnesses:

SAMsoN llinson, R. CAMPBELL. 

